MUMBAI: The probe into Bhandara fire tragedy, in which ten infants lost their lives at the district civil hospital last month, has found two nurses guilty of negligence.
They have been booked for culpable homicide.
According to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, a thorough probe was conducted by DSP-level officials and the nurses, who were on night duty in the natal care unit at Bhandara hospital, were found negligent which resulted in the death of the newborn babies.
“We have taken against these guilty employees,” he said.
The probe report said a baby warmer caught fire because of a short circuit in the Sick Newborn Care Unit and the blaze later spread to the entire hospital. The report also blamed Civil Surgeon Pramod Khandate for not taking certain steps that could have prevented the mishap. But the state government has so far taken action only against the nurses.
The opposition alleged the report was “a farce to save the big fish”.
“The Maha Vikas Aghadi is safeguarding the senior officers and the nurses have been made the scapegoat. This probe should have been carried out by a retired IAS officer or a special investigation team.
The government should make the report public,” BJP leader Ashish Shelar said.